Sorry to hear about your accident. You need to contact a personal injury attorney ASAP. The majority of us offer free consultations and can set you up with a doctor--so, don't worry about any out-of-pocket costs.

Ms. Berjis is licensed to practice law in the State of California. The laws of your jurisdiction may differ and thus this answer is for informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as legal advice. Since all facts are not addressed in the question, this answer could change depending on other significant and important facts. This answer in no way constitutes an attorney-client relationship.

You need to not speak to any of the insurance companies; not even yours. Then, immediately consult with an attorney who can send you for treatment without you having to pay any monies out of your pocket. Most lawyers will consult with you for free and you can find someone in your area through the Avvo search finder. Do not delay because the longer it takes for you to get in to be examined by a doctor and start your treatment, the more the value of your case will be prejudiced. Best of luck!

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No; it is not too late at all. But do not delay. This is a perfect time to allow a lawyer to step in, try to contact witnesses, address the insurance companies, send you to a clinic for treatment, and begin to address all aspects relating to the repairs of your vehicle. Please let me know if you have further questions. Good luck!

It's never too early to call, and meet with, an attorney... but it sure can be too late. The same goes for medical attention from a physician!
Other mistakes that can be made after a car accident in which one is physically injured (as opposed to accidents where the only damaged things are the vehicles) is working with one's own or the other insurance company without a lawyer doing the talking... we are called "mouth pieces" for a reason.
- Paul J, Molinaro, M.D., J.D.
Physician and Attorney

Do you have any medical pay coverage on your automobile insurance policy? You may have $1,000.00 or more coverage to help you through this initial period of treatment. I also concur with my colleagues that you should be looking at retaining a personal injury attorney.

If you were rear ended then you are eligible to recover for all your medical bills, pain and suffering, mental distress, wage loss, future wage loss, etc. You must call an experienced PI lawyer right away. Best of luck.

This answer is provided by California Auto Accident Attorney Manuel A. Juarez, Esq., These answers are not intended to form an attorney client relationship. Manuel Juarez. Esq., is licensed only in California. He practices in Antioch, Berkeley, Concord, Oakland, Hayward, Martinez, Newark, Richmond, San Francisco and San Rafael. This information is good only in California and it is not to be taken as legal advice on car accidents, personal injury, divorce, bankruptcy or in any other type of situation.
Esta respuesta es del Abogado de Accidentes de Autos, Abogado de Lesiones Personales, Abogado de Heridos en Accidentes de carros, Manuel A. Juárez, Abogado Hispano de Accidentes, Abogado de Divorcios, Abogado Latino de Accidentes, Abogado de Accidentes de Oakland, Hayward, San Francisco, California. Estas respuesta son solo para información general y no consisten en consejo legal sobre divorcios, mantención de esposas, mantención de hijos o bancarrotas. Las respuestas son comentarios legales que no forman una relación de abogado y cliente. Manuel Juarez, Esq., esta licenciado solo en el Estado de California. El abogado de lesiones y heridos en accidentes de autos, Manuel A. Juarez es licenciado solo en California.

Health care providers are often willing to treat a personal injury victim on a lien basis if the victim is represented by a personal injury attorney whom the health care providers trust did a good job during the client intake phase of the case. By this I mean, the personal injury attorney would have interviewed the client to determine whether the other driver will more than likely be found liable for causing the collision, that they had a driver's license, active liability insurance at the time of the collision, whether there are witnesses to the accident, whether the police responded and took down a traffic collision report, and whether the client had active liability insurance at the time of the collision.

You should definitely contact a personal injury attorney in your area and ask for a consultation. If a personal injury attorney accepts your case, they will probably be able to help you find necessary medical care on a lien basis. But, just make sure you ask the attorney if treating on a lien basis makes sense under the facts of your particular case.

If the other driver's insurance company completes their investigation of liability and coverage and determines for some reason that coverage on the vehicle that rear ended you was not in force and effect at the time of the collision, you may be facing an uphill battle of trying to recover your damages from a defendant who has difficulty paying for your losses. When you sign a lien you are still on the hook with the health care provider regardless of the outcome of your case against the other driver.

These are important considerations. But when you have been injured in a collision and your body needs treatment to heal, receiving prompt medical care is crucial. It's a lot to consider on your own. That's why it's so important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to gain a better understanding of what makes sense for your case.

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It sounds to me your question is: How do I get medical treatment for my injuries without health insurance?

In response to that, here are some suggestions that you might want to look into (by no means is this an exhaustive list):

(A) Medical Payment Coverage - automobile insurance policies may have a coverage for medical services that are derived from injuries sustained during a motor-vehicle collision. Check the automobile insurance policies to determine (1) whether or not there is this type of coverage, (2) how much coverage there is, and (3) if there are any time limits to using said coverage.

(B) Medical Lien - some medical facilities/physicians are willing to provide medical services without advance payment. Instead they will ask for you to pay for the services from the compensation that you receive from your personal injury case. This is what is referred to as a "medical lien." Usually medical facilities/physicians shy away from this option without an attorney handling the case, and even when an attorney is handling the case it isn't always that easy to find a medical facility/physician that will accept this option.

(C) Self Pay - you can always pay for medical treatment on your own. Some medical facilities/physicians will work with you in creating a payment plan or offer an uninsured patient discount. Make sure you discuss with the medical facility/physician that you will be self-paying and to inquire ahead of time what discounts or payment plans they offer. Sometimes this is the only option available.

As always, you are strongly advised to speak with a licensed attorney to fully evaluate your case and to guide you in determining the best course of action in these types of situations. Most, if not all, offer a free consultation for personal injury cases as that is the industry standard - take advantage of it!

Best of luck to you!

This information is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is intended for general informational purposes only. Said information is given in the context of California law.

It has been a week and you havent been seen by a doctor. Id go to the county hospital They cant turn you away. Best to see someone asap and get on record all of your injuries/complaints. Check your auto policy to see if you have any med pay coverage.

I live and work in California and deal with accidents like yours, so I am happy to answer your question. The answer to your question is your gut instinct is right that you want to know what you are entitled to ; you are entitled to having your medical bills covered and other out of pocket expenses. Our firm does not usually settle cases until the client is 100%. We look at the case as a whole and attempt to figure out what the settlement should be. The insurance company will make you believe that your case is worth very little... Regarding pain and suffering, you need to speak to an experienced attorney that can strategize your case. Just because you were in an accident doesn't mean you have pain and suffering, at least thats what the insurance companies think. Make no doubt about it you have a great case, but you need help from a professional. You are entitled to your medical bills being covered as well.

Do you feel that you are at the same medical condition that you were before the accident? As a basic premise I wouldn't handle your claim by yourself. The attorney you hired can likely refer you to a doctor, if you ask for one, who will see you with no upfront payment! I've done this many times to help my clients out. You should not wait a single day to hire a lawyer, we will advise you on the strategy of your case. There is no upfront cost to hire an attorney.

With a case like yours it seems like you have some good facts in order to get a high settlement, but your case definitely needs to be developed further to corroborate your story. The most important thing when building your case are: liability (were you at fault); how bad are your injuries to your body. A lot of these things sound like they are not complete yet in your case so its something that is worth hiring an attorney for in order to get a sense of whether you have a case and what the strategy would be for you to build a strong case! I've handled cases and/or spoken to clients in the Modesto, CA area.

Its very possible that your case is worth more than the $$$ that the insurance company will offer you by yourself. Make your life easier and call an attorney today, you won't regret it. We give free consultations!

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I'm sorry to hear of your injury. You should speak with an experienced persona injury attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can negotiate with the insurance companies for you, send you to treatment with no out of pocket costs to you and obtain the highest settlement for your damages.